Remotely controllable revolving support for speaker

ABSTRACT

A revolving support for a speaker includes a base housing, a revolving platform, a motor plinth, and a control circuit. The revolving platform is rotatably provided on the base housing, wherein the speaker is adapted to securely rest on the revolving platform. The motor plinth is disposed in the base housing, and includes a motor operatively communicated with the revolving platform in such a manner that the motor is arranged to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing. The control circuit is electrically connected with the motor in such a manner to controllably activate the motor to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing, such that the revolving platform is adapted to turn and align the speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for delivering a maximum sound quality in the direction.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a regular application of a provisional application Ser. No.60/490,822, filed Jul. 28, 2003 by the inventor of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a revolving support for speaker, especially toa support a direction thereof is able to be adjusted by a remote controlthus helping a user easily find a sweet point for better enjoyment instead of turning the speaker by hands which is both force-taking andinaccurate.

2. Description of Related Arts

Persons who care of enjoying sound of speakers and who have usedspeakers know that a direction of speaker is a very important factor inthe enjoyment. As shown in FIG. 1, when there are more than one speaker11, 12, as a common situation goes, imaginary lines respectivelyvertical with respect to each speaker 11, 12 would better converge at apoint called as “sweetspot” 111. Persons may have such experience andknowledge of speaker that an area near around the sweetspot 111 isusually the best place for sound enjoyment. Therefore, to levelly rotateevery speaker 11, 12 facing a sweetspot 111 to give audience, sometimesthe user himself, a best enjoying effect become a routine task forspeaker users.

For some speakers light in weight and rarely moved, the task may betrivial. The user may stand up from his seat and rotate each speaker oneby one towards where he sits and then come back and have a taste if theeffect turns better. Such action may be repeated several times. Howeverfor some other speakers that are as heavy as from tens up to hundreds ofpounds and that frequently need to be relocated, such as the ones usedon stage or for temporary performance, to rotate the speakers by handsbecome a very difficult, sometimes even an impossible, task.

It is noteworthy that in aforementioned adjusting, the user usuallyfinally compromises on a make-do result because to continue is soforce-taking and, at the same time, he does not have any indicator helphim clearly determine whether the sweetspot 111 is really reached.

In some other situations, speakers 11, 12 may be suspended from aceiling and out of reach of the user. Under this circumstance, the usermay have three choices: to ascend with a chair to adjust the speaker toget a better effect; to look for the sweetspot 111 in the room and sitover there; or to just stay where he is and keep on listening and keepson tolerating the bad quality of sound.

However no one choice is really satisfactory. The first one not onlyincreases the workload of finding a sweetspot 111 but also brings riskof falling down. The second brings much problems: sometimes thesweetspot 111 may not exist at all because the imaginary lines withrespect to each speaker 11, 12 do not converge at one point; andsometimes the sweetspot 111 may be preoccupied by some other things thatare not easily moveable. The third may be the worst one since no onewould like to tolerate poor sound effect if they can get better.

So, it will be advantageous to provide a revolving support for speaker.The support would better be remotely controllable allowing the useradjust the direction of the speaker while sits in his seat. And thesupport should also have a means being able to clearly indicate thedirection towards which the speaker is facing. Such support will assistthe user not only in finding a sweetspot but also easily rotating thespeakers towards the sweetspot.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a revolving support forspeaker which is able to be driven to revolve by a motor under a controlof a remote control, enabling a user adjust a direction of the speakerwhile sitting in a seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a revolving support forspeaker which has an indicating means being able to clearly indicate thedirection towards which the speaker is facing thus enabling a usereasily and accurately identifies a sweetspot of more than one speaker.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the presentinvention provides a revolving support for a speaker, comprising:

-   -   a base housing;    -   a revolving platform rotatably provided on the base housing,        wherein the speaker is adapted to securely rest on the revolving        platform;    -   a motor plinth disposed in the base housing, and comprises a        motor, having a driving shaft extended therefrom, operatively        communicated with the revolving platform in such a manner that        the motor is arranged to drive the revolving platform rotating        with respect to the base housing; and    -   a control circuit electrically connected with the motor in such        a manner to controllably activate the motor to drive the        revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing,        such that the revolving platform is adapted to turn and align        the speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for        delivering a maximum sound quality in the optimal orientation.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagrams illustrating that conventional speakersare utilized in an ordinary domestic environment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a revolving support for a speaker whichis utilized in an ordinary domestic environment according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the revolving supportaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the revolving support according tothe above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an alternative mode of the revolving support according to theabove preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the revolving support according tothe above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, two speakers 11, 12 rotatably andrespectively supported by two remotely controllable revolving supports20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated, wherein the two speakers 11, 12 are placed apart from eachother at a certain distance in front of a user. Each speaker 11, 12 ispositioned above the respective revolving support 20 which comprises abase housing 21 securely standing on a ground surface, and a revolvingplatform 23 rotatably supported on the base housing 21 in such a mannerthat it is adapted to rotate with respect to the base housing 21 fordelivering sound to a sweetspot of the two speakers 11, 12. Moreover,the revolving support 20 further comprises a remote control 40 which isarranged to generate a remote control signal, such as an infraredcontrol signal, and a remote sensor, such as an infrared sensor 22,installed in a side wall of the base housing 21 for sensing andreceiving the infrared control signal from the remote control 40.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a perspective view of the base housing 21 and aside view of the revolving platform 23 detached from the base housing 21respectively. The base housing 21, which is embodied as a speaker stand,has a top board 211 having a central opening 213 and a rotating groove212 formed thereon. The revolving platform 23 has a central recess 231,which is square in shape, indently formed on a bottom side thereof, anda rim holder 232. A plurality of bearing balls 233 are rollably hold inrespective hollows defined in the rim holder 232 and substantiallyaligned with the rotating groove 212, so that when the revolvingplatform 23 is place on the top board 211, the bearing balls 233 isreceived in the rotating groove 212, which is circular in shape

As a result, the revolving platform 23 is capable of rotating withrespect to the base housing 21 by rotation of the bearing balls 233,which are substantially guided by the rotating groove 212.

Note that the provision of the rim holder 232, the bearing balls 233 andthe rotating groove 212 is to allay a friction between the revolvingplatform 23 and the top board, and since it is an ordinary art known bypersons in the field of mechanical and not the subject matter of theinvention, it will not be described herein in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a sectional side view of therevolving support 20 is shown. On a bottom of the base housing 21, amotor plinth 26 is securely attached, on which a motor 24 is installed.The motor 24 has a driving shaft 241 securely engaging with atransmission shaft 25 which has a top connecting portion having acorresponding square cross section to drive the transmission shaft 25 torotate. The top connecting portion of the transmission shaft 25 extendsupright through the central opening 213 and is received by the squarerecess 231 in such a manner that when the transmission shaft 25 rotates,the revolving platform 23 will be driven to rotate accordingly. In theshown embodiment, both the recess 231 and the cross section of thetransmission shaft 25 are square. They can be any other polygamy as longas they can firmly engage with each other and when the transmissionshaft 25 rotates, the revolving table 23 can be driven thereby withouttrembling.

According to the preferred embodiment, the top board 211 forms as a topceiling of the base housing such that the base housing 21 forms anenclosed structure to sealingly receive the motor plinth 26 therein.

The infrared sensor 22 is electrically connected to a control circuit 27which is able to process the control signal received and sent by theinfrared sensor 22. The control circuit 27 is electrically connected tothe motor 24 to control the motor 24 to rotate according to the controlsignal. A power supply unit 28 having a power supply cable 281accessible to a wall socket is provided to supply electric power for thesensor 22, the control circuit 27, and the motor 24.

According to the preferred embodiment, each of the revolving supports 20further comprises means 30 for indicating a direction towards which thespeaker is acing. When the user press keys of the remote control toadjust the direction of the speaker 11, 12, the indicating means 30 isable to sent out a visible laser beam 32 from a laser source 31 thereof.The indicating means 30 can be attached on each of the speakers 11, 12in an upright plane passing a centre of the speaker 11, 12 and verticalto the speaker 11, 12. The visible laser beam 31 sent out by theindicating means 30 is vertical to the speaker 11, 12. Each indicatingmeans 30 is electrically connected to the control circuit 27 by a powercable 33 for power supply. When the user rotate the revolving platform23, the speaker 11, 12 supported thereon rotates accordingly, and thevisible laser beam 31, which is in the upright plane passing the centreof the speaker 11, 12 and vertical to the speaker 11, 12, will be ableto accurately indicate what direction the speaker 11, 12 is facing.Therefore, when the user has more than one speakers 11, 12 and needs tolocate a sweetspot around where he sits, he can rotate the revolvingtable 23 one by one, looking the visible laser beams 32 until theyconverge at a point near where he sits. So, with the invention, the useris able to easily and accurately find a sweetspot of more than onespeakers 11, 12. After the user stops adjusting, the control circuit 27turns off the laser source 31.

According to the preferred embodiment, the indicating means 30 ispreferably embodied as a laser beam pointer provided on the base housingand electrically connected with the control circuit 27 in such a mannerthat it is controllably activated by the remote control 40 by the userof the present invention.

It must be mentioned here that since the laser may hurt human's eyes,all products employ the indicating means 30 must warn users avoiddirectly watching the laser source 31 thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of the drawings, an alternative mode ofthe revolving speaker 20 according to the above preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated. According to the alternative mode,the base housing 21, which is embodied as a ceiling mount, is able to besecurely attached on a ceiling with a plurality of expansion bolts 214.A transmission shaft 25′ is supported by two bearings 291, 291′respectively supported on the central opening 213 of the top board 211and a central opening 216 of a middle board 215 firmly fixed in the base21. The transmission shaft 25′ is able to be driven to rotate by themotor 24.

Moreover, according to the alternative mode, the revolving platform 23is embodied as a revolving rack 23′ which is securely fixed to a freeend of the transmission shaft 25′ with a rivet nut 251′ in such a mannerthat when the transmission shaft 25′ is driven to rotate by the motor24, the revolving rack 23′ will rotate accordingly with respect to thebase housing 21. In other words, the speaker 11, 12 is able to bedetachably and suspendedly mounted to the revolving rack 23′ by means ofan attachment means installed on a top thereof. Thus, the speaker 20 issuspended down from the revolving support 20 of the invention. Since theattachment means is known art and not the subject matter of theinvention, it will not be described in detail herein.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A revolving support for a speaker, comprising: a base housing; arevolving platform rotatably supported on said base housing forsupporting said speaker on said revolving platform; a motor plinthdisposed in said base housing, and comprises a motor, having a drivingshaft extended therefrom, operatively communicated with said revolvingplatform in such a manner that said motor is arranged to drive saidrevolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing; and acontrol circuit electrically connected with said motor in such a mannerto controllably activate said motor to drive said revolving platformrotating with respect to said base housing, such that said revolvingplatform is adapted to turn and align said speaker to a predeterminedoptimal orientation for delivering a maximum sound quality in saidoptimal orientation.
 2. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1,wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a speaker stand, furthercomprises a top board having a rotating groove peripherally formedthereon, and said revolving platform further comprises a plurality ofbearing balls rotatably provided on a bottom side thereof andsubstantially align with said rotating groove, in such a manner thatsaid bearing balls are received in said rotating groove so that saidrevolving platform is capable of rotating with respect to said basehousing by rotation of said bearing balls, which are substantiallyguided by said rotating groove.
 3. The revolving support, as recited inclaim 2, wherein said revolving platform further has a rim holderperipherally formed on bottom side thereof and substantially alignedwith said rotating groove, wherein said bearing balls are rotatably heldby said rim holder to rotatably slide along said rotating groove so asto guide said revolving platform rotating on said base housing.
 4. Therevolving support, as recited in claim 3, wherein said revolvingplatform further has a central recess indently formed on a bottom sidethereof, wherein said motor plinth further comprises a transmissionshaft, which is non-circular in shape, and has a top portion rotatablypenetrating said top board to connect with said central recess of saidrevolving platform, such that when said motor is activated, said drivingshaft is adapted to drive said transmission shaft to rotate, so as todrive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said basehousing.
 5. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing andelectrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote controladapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by saidremote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive saidtransmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotatingwith respect to said base housing.
 6. The revolving support, as recitedin claim 4, further comprising a remote sensor provided on said basehousing and electrically connected with said control circuit, and aremote control adapted to generate a remote control signal which isreceived by said remote sensor for controllably activating said motor todrive said transmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platformrotating with respect to said base housing.
 7. The revolving support, asrecited in claim 5, further comprising means for indicating said optimalorientation of said speaker, wherein said indicating means comprises alaser beam pointer provided on the base housing and electricallyconnected with said control circuit so as to controllably generate alaser beam for indicating an orientation of said speaker.
 8. Therevolving support, as recited in claim 6, further comprising means forindicating said optimal orientation of said speaker, wherein saidindicating means comprises a laser beam pointer provided on the basehousing and electrically connected with said control circuit so as tocontrollably generate a laser beam for indicating an orientation of saidspeaker.
 9. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidbase housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mountingon a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, andsaid revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by saidbase housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting saidspeaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspendedmanner for locating said optimal orientation.
 10. The revolving support,as recited in claim 5, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as aceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in anupright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is arevolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted fordetachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as torotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating saidoptimal orientation.
 11. The revolving support, as recited in claim 7,wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adaptedfor mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on saidceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatablysupported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hanginglymounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speakerin a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.
 12. Anadjustable speaker system, comprising: at least a speaker adapted fordelivering sound therefrom; and a base housing; a revolving platformrotatably supported on said base housing for supporting said speaker onsaid revolving platform; a motor plinth disposed in said base housing,and comprises a motor, having a driving shaft extended therefrom,operatively communicated with said revolving platform in such a mannerthat said motor is arranged to drive said revolving platform rotatingwith respect to said base housing; and a control circuit electricallyconnected with said motor in such a manner to controllably activate saidmotor to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to saidbase housing, such that said revolving platform is adapted to turn andalign said speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for deliveringa maximum sound quality in said optimal orientation.
 13. The adjustablespeaker system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said base housing, whichis embodied as a speaker stand, further comprises a top board having arotating groove peripherally formed thereon, and said revolving platformfurther comprises a plurality of bearing balls rotatably provided on abottom side thereof and substantially align with said rotating groove,in such a manner that said bearing balls are received in said rotatinggroove so that said revolving platform is capable of rotating withrespect to said base housing by rotation of said bearing balls, whichare substantially guided by said rotating groove.
 14. The adjustablespeaker system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said revolving platformfurther has a rim holder peripherally formed on bottom side thereof andsubstantially aligned with said rotating groove, wherein said bearingballs are rotatably held by said rim holder to rotatably slide alongsaid rotating groove so as to guide said revolving platform rotating onsaid base housing.
 15. The adjustable speaker system, as recited inclaim 14, wherein said revolving platform further has a central recessindently formed on a bottom side thereof, wherein said motor plinthfurther comprises a transmission shaft, which is non-circular in shape,and has a top portion rotatably penetrating said top board to connectwith said central recess of said revolving platform, such that when saidmotor is activated, said driving shaft is adapted to drive saidtransmission shaft to rotate, so as to drive said revolving platformrotating with respect to said base housing.
 16. The adjustable speakersystem, as recited in claim 12, further comprising a remote sensorprovided on said base housing and electrically connected with saidcontrol circuit, and a remote control adapted to generate a remotecontrol signal which is received by said remote sensor for controllablyactivating said motor to drive said transmission shaft rotating to drivesaid revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing. 17.The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 15, furthercomprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing andelectrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote controladapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by saidremote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive saidtransmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotatingwith respect to said base housing.
 18. The adjustable speaker system, asrecited in claim 17, further comprising means for indicating saidoptimal orientation of said speaker, wherein said indicating meanscomprises a laser beam pointer provided on the base housing andelectrically connected with said control circuit so as to controllablygenerate a laser beam for indicating an orientation of said speaker. 19.The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said basehousing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on aceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and saidrevolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said basehousing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speakerthereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended mannerfor locating said optimal orientation.
 20. The adjustable speakersystem, as recited in claim 16, wherein said base housing, which isembodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, issupported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolvingplatform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing,and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon,so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner forlocating said optimal orientation.